Should Pet Owners Receive More Than 'Market Value' Damages?

Three years ago, Jeremy and Kathryn Medlen's dog, Avery, escaped from their Fort Worth home during a thunderstorm. They learned a few days later from Fort Worth Animal Control that Avery had been found safe and was in the custody of the city shelter. But by the time the family arrived to claim their pet, it had already been euthanized by shelter worker Carla Strickland, who had apparently ignored the "hold for owner" sign on the cage.

The Medlen's sued, claiming negligence and seeking damages under the "sentimental value rule" a state law passed in 1963 that allows parties to sue when a piece of property that otherwise has no monetary value is destroyed.

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This case can reflect a pet owner's worst nightmare. It has made its way to the Texas Supreme Court, which must decide if a family can place sentimental value on a pet that was accidentally euthanized.

The Medlens, Turner said, "wanted to know if there's anything they could [do to] stop this from happening to anyone else." Let's help support their cause so we all can prevent this from happening to other beloved pet owners.